Automatic valve-operating mechanism.



PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

J. ELLIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1906.

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UNITED i STATES ATENT onirica.

AUTOMATI VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Speeication of Letters li'atent.

Patented Ang. e, 1907.

Application iiled May 2, 1906. Serial No. 314,770.

To all 'whom 'it may'co'ncem: i

Be it known that I, JOHN ELLIS, a citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valve-Operating/Meehanism; and I do declare the fol- 4lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved automatic valve operatingmeehanism, and it isparticularly adapted for use in the opening and closing of seat-valves by the action o variable temperatures, variable pressure, the rise and fall of Heats,y or such other intermittent mechanism wherein it is necessary that said valve should open or close to regulate and control the quantity of gas, water-or other fluid delivered through the medium of said valve, and with these ends in view, the inven- 'tion comprises a moving or sliding member, actuated by certain moving parts governed by varying temperature, pressure, dce., which when carried beyond a dead-line' or center, operates a spring actuated lever to either open orclose the valve, as necessary, and the invention further consists ina means of adjustment regulative to the time or period of movement of said valve due to said variable conditions, and the invention also consists in the certain detailsof construction and combination of parts, as will be ully'described hereinafter.

. In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved automatic valve operating mechanism shown in connection witli a thermostat regulator for water heaters, in which the valve is opened and closed orthe purpose of regulating the supply of gas to the heater.- Fig. 2 Iisan inverted plan view of the same. `Fig.3'is a front elevation of the regulator and valve operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed side elevation of my improved device shown in connection with a portion of the valve stem. Fig. 5 is a iront sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of my improved valve operating mechanism, showing the same adapted for use in connection with afloat;y

I vFor the purpose of illustrating the advantages and I. working of my improved deviee,.I have shown atIfigs.

1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a thermostat gas regulator, to regulate and control the flow of. gas to a heater adaptled to keep the water in a boiler at approximately even temperature. .This regulator consists of a suitably formed shell 3 attached to the boiler 1 by means of a threaded nipple 2, said shell having a gas inlet and outlet ports and intervening valve seat 5, upon which a va1ve'6 is made to operate.

Arranged within the boiler 1, is a copper tube 4 with inclosed porcelain rod 25, the one expanding and eontracting under the varying temperatures oi the water in the boiler and the other practically inert. .This porcelain rod 2 5 projects through the shell 3 and is in contact with a pivoted (26,) lever 23, which contacts by an adjusting screw 24 with anotherv lever 21, fulcrumed (22,) to a frame 4 formed integral'with the shell 3, which lever extends over and beyond the stem 7 of the valve 6, and the free end provided with a spring 20 iixed to a bracket 19,'-or the lpurpose of holding said lever to keep the porcelain Arod 25 normally against the inner or closed end of the copper tube 4.

The free end of the valve stem 7 is iitted with adjustable nuts 8 and 9, and adjacent to said stem is a moving member 11 loosely connected (18,.) to the main lever 21, said member being capable of a limited movement in slides 10, forming a part oi a bracket rigidly attached to the shell 3. This slidable member 1l Ais provided with a bridge 12, having outwardly projecting pins 14, which form pivotal connections for two spiral springs 13, which occupy position at either side of said member, and the other extremities of said springs connected with similar pins 15, forming a part oi a lbiiurcated bar or lever 16, which bifurcation incloses the valve stem 7 at a point between the adjustable nuts 8 and 9. The other end of the bifurcated lever 16 is iulcrumed in a notch'l7 formedin the Abracket 10. at a point opposite to and midway between the center of the throw of the valve stem 7, in such manner that when the points of connection 14 oi the springs 13 are over thedead-line or center the valve 6 will be pressed and held to its seat 5 or lifted free from the samelby the action of the springs 13.

In the operation of the above described regulator, the water in the boiler 1, having reached a certain predetermined temperature, and the device adjusted by means of the screw 24 to res-pond to that degree nl' heat, the copper tube 4 has expanded in the direction oi its length permitting the rod 25to recede, which motion is transmitted to the sliding member 11 through the medium of 'the compound levers 21 and 23. This movement oi the lever 21 will carry the member .l'l

inward, moving the connections 14 beyond the dead line or point 17, causing the springs 13 to actuate the bar 16, t move in quick 'contact with the adjustable stop 18,the said springs 13 placing a pressure upon the same to move and hold the valve to its seat 5, to eut off .the supply of gas to the heater. The supply of gas beingstopped r 'cut off from the heater, the

hi'gh temperature of the water inthe boiler 1 will be gradually reduced and the tube 4` contracting will v. bring the parts back to their normal position to again' supply the heater-with gas, as is obvious.

5" `At Fig.l 6 of the drawings I have shown in connection with a float 31, a nmdied orm of my invention,

-' l vin which the pivoted lever 30 o said float operates the sliding member 11 by being brought in'4 contact with stops 29, either adjustably attached or formed 10 integral with said member. In this modied form the valve stern 7 is fitted with adjustable nuts 9 and 8 similar to those above described, and the springsvl .and'biiurcatedfleve I6, arranged at the -ront and in line with the sliding member ll. 'It will be readily seen that the rise and-fall of the float 3l will bring the pivoted connections 14 and 15 over the dead line or center of the lever 13 thereby opening andclosing the valve. l

L This valve 1operating,rnechanislri may be used for a number oi other purposes, and various slight alterag tions and changes may be madedn the details o con@ struction without departingfrom'th'e spirit of the in- .vention'.

to those shown and described, but wish to claim all Therefore I do not Wish to confine myself.

the general scope of the invention. v

Havingthus described my invention, what I claimand desire to\secure byLetters Patent, is;-

1. A mechanism for operating valves, comprising a priisuch modified forms, as would come properly withinl mary actuating` means connected to and operating a slid- Y able member, a liar fulcrumed at a .point midway of the movement of said member and suitable springs connecting ,the free end of the bar to the sliding member, whereby.

movement isimparted to the outer end of the bar when.

carried beyond the dead point or line by said sliding member, to'open or .clfose a valve, as described; -K

2. A valve operating mechanism comprising a slidable `mexnber connected to 4andoperated by a primary actuating Ine-ans, in combination with a valve` stem having Aadjustable stops, a bifurcated bar or lever arranged Within reach 0F40 said stops and fulcrnxned midway of the movement of Asaid sliding member, suitable springs connecting `the free end of the bar with the sliding member at points'normally out 'of line with the fulcrum of said bar, said springs acting to. give movementto the bar when beyond the dead Ypoint, as described. 

